I recently put a new bushmaster on layaway at a local gun store. When I came back one week later to pick up the bushmaster there was a preban Colt AR15A2 CAR15 on the shelf. Naturally I was drawn to it and wanted to know if you guys could give me some advice on price, what to look for on the gun and any other useful information.  It has no visible signs of wear inside the upper reciver area and no signs of wear on the muzzel. The Colt has a 16" barrel with a retractable stock and a handle on top. It comes with a supposed original box, although the box has no markings at all, it is just a plain cardboard box with an inner box that apears to wrap the rifle just wright. I was told by the dealer that the earlier AR15's shipped out had no markings on the box and that later they where green or blue and had the words colt on the box.  Is this true?  Also the rifle is missing its original magazine, however other than this it has the look and feel of a very well kept weapon. It even felt more sturdie and lighter than the busmaster I was originally going to get. The gun store owner told me he got it from a gentleman who had it sitting in his gun collection for years, shot it only a couple of times and just needed the money. I have put this one on layaway and would really like to hear from some of you all with wisdom on the topic. Any info would greatly be appreciated. By the way the serial number starts with GC015xxx if this helps. I was also wondering after reading some info on AR15.com if anyone would know if the barrel on this gun would be steel or chrome. It is slimmer than the ones on all the bushmasters at the dealer. Thanks again.
Josepe.

IMHO..get 'em both. You might wanna keep the Colt as a collector piece, much like the original owner surely did. Shoot the Bushy, love the Colt. Somebody'll come along who wants it more than you will at the time, and offer you real good profit for it. If not, just take it out and rub on it from time to time..like we all do other things. LOL

Josepe:

If the carbine is complete and original, the serial number you listed is for a very desireable variant.  They are worth some money.  If the gun dealer knows what he has, you'll probably end paying 2 to 3 times what the Bushie cost.

If he'll sell it for less grab it!

For more info see: www.biggerhamer.net

Hope this helps....Geno

sounds to me like you've got a Government Carbine there (it's semi-auto,  OK for civies).
It's only the MOST DESIRABLE AR OUT THERE.
That's all.

I would hate to be a party-pooper, BUT...

Wasn't there a very small number of Gov't Carbines available for civilian purchase?

Most were made as LEO/Mil. only and several were made without the LEO/Mil. only warning.

IIRC from the old board, something like 134 (or so) were made before the above rescrictions came into place.

The serial number Josepe listed is well above the numbers I seem to recall as being okay to own.

JohnM where are you man??? We need you!!! [:D]

If the rifle was LEO/MIL use only wouldn't that be clearly stamped on the rifle?